William Thoresen

Serial Killer

William Thoresen III: Wealth, Violence, Weapons and Suspected Murder

Background and Early Life

William Erness Thoresen III was born on October 9, 1937, into a wealthy Chicago-area family. His father, William Thoresen II, was the president of Great Western Steel Company, and the family lived among the affluent residents of Chicago's North Shore. Although Thoresen enjoyed financial privilege, his life became defined by instability, violent behavior, weapons and repeated confrontations with relatives, strangers and law enforcement. Accounts of Thoresen's youth describe a pattern of disturbing conduct that included trespassing, harassment, theft and an intense fascination with firearms. His family reportedly arranged psychiatric treatment for him on several occasions, but his behavior continued into adulthood. He traveled frequently, accumulated weapons and ammunition, and became increasingly suspicious of nearly everyone around him. Thoresen married Louise Banich in January 1954. Their relationship was turbulent and abusive. Louise later described years of intimidation, assaults, threats and criminal activity. According to her account, Thoresen regarded violence as a practical way to settle disputes and frequently discussed killing people who angered him or interfered with his plans.

Disputed Status as a Serial Killer

William Thoresen was never convicted of murder, and no homicide was conclusively attributed to him while he was alive. He is nevertheless described in some crime histories as a suspected serial killer because investigators, relatives and later researchers connected him to several suspicious or unsolved deaths. The strongest allegations concern the death of his younger brother, Richard Thoresen, the disappearance or death of an alleged accomplice named Dale Stoddard, and the unsolved murder of Valerie Percy. Additional writers have attempted to connect Thoresen to other nationally known murders, including crimes attributed to the Zodiac Killer. Those broader claims remain theories and have not been established through a criminal conviction, definitive forensic evidence or an official identification by law enforcement. ...

Confirmed Victims: (0)
Suspected Victims:

Richard Ehrman Thoresen Age: (24), Date of Death: 1965-09-21

Valerie Jeanne Percy Age: (21), Date of Death: 1966-09-18

Dale Stoddard

Unidentified alleged male victim

It was William Erness Thoresen III. : r/ZodiacKiller - Reddit